Social Class

What is the definition of social class according to Max Weber?

A large group of people who rank close to one another in terms of property, power, and prestige.

What are the three dimensions of social class?

Property, power, and prestige.

What does 'property' refer to in the context of social class?

Material possessions such as buildings, bank accounts, bonds, businesses, cars, jewelry, and land.

How is 'power' defined in relation to social class?

The ability to get one's way even though others resist.

What term did C. Wright Mills coin to describe the small group that holds power in society?

Power elite.

What is 'prestige' linked to in social class?

Occupational status.

How do occupational prestige rankings compare globally?

They have changed little over decades and are similar across countries, with higher prestige occupations typically paying more and requiring more education.

What is status inconsistency?

When individuals rank higher on some dimensions of social class than on others, leading to frustrations that can produce political radicalism.

What is the difference between income and wealth?

Income is money received or earnings, while wealth is the total value of everything someone owns minus outstanding debts.

What percentage of income do the highest-earning one-fifth of U.S. families receive?

49.2 percent.

What percentage of wealth do the richest one-fifth of U.S. families control?

88.9 percent.

What are the three types of social mobility?

Upward social mobility, downward social mobility, and structural mobility.

What is intergenerational mobility?

Changes in social class from one generation to the next.

How does social class affect people's lives?

It impacts health, education, child-rearing, political participation, and interactions with the criminal justice system.

What are some problems linked to poverty?

Poor health, food insecurity, lack of health insurance, substandard housing, limited schooling, and increased crime rates.

What is the poverty line?

An income level set by the government for counting the poor, roughly three times what a family needs to eat a basic, nutritious diet.

What are some myths about poverty?

1. Poor people are lazy. 2. They are trapped in a cycle of poverty. 3. Most are African American or Latino. 4. Most live in the inner city. 5. They live on welfare.

What does the structural-functional analysis suggest about poverty?

Some poverty is inevitable.

What do social pathology theories attribute poverty to?

Personal deficiencies and flaws.

What is the culture of poverty?

Patterns that encourage poverty as a way of life.

What is the Horatio Alger myth?

The belief that anyone can get ahead if they try hard enough, which encourages striving and deflects blame for failure from society to the individual.

What is cultural capital?

The skills, values, attitudes, and schooling that increase a person's chances of success.

What does symbolic-interaction analysis highlight about poverty?

The social construction of problems and solutions, including the process of blaming the victim.

What does social-conflict analysis suggest about poverty?

Poverty can be eliminated, and it critiques the industrial-capitalist economy for placing wealth in the hands of a few.

What is the relationship between social class and health outcomes?

There is a strong link between income and health, with poorer individuals experiencing worse health outcomes.

What is the significance of the infant mortality rate in relation to poverty?

The infant mortality rate among the poor is twice that of affluent people.

How does social class affect educational attainment?

Economically disadvantaged children are less likely to graduate from high school and enter college.